Prominent evangelical leaders in the United States have expressed strong support for President Donald Trump’s decision to launch military strikes against Iran over the weekend.
Rev. Dr. Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas—a 16,000-member megachurch—told his congregation on Sunday that supporting Israel means defending its right to exist, especially in the face of Iranian threats.
“To support Israel, first of all, means to support Israel’s right to exist,” he said. “Iran has stated its objective to wipe Israel off the face of the earth, and there are other countries that believe that as well.”
He continued, “God created the nation of Israel. Israel was His idea, and He said Israel will endure forever. No other nation, including the United States, has that promise—but Israel has that promise.”
His remarks were met with enthusiastic applause and later reported by Accesswire.
Dr. Jeffress praised President Trump’s military decision, calling it both necessary and morally justified.
“Last night, we saw President Trump make the right decision,” he said. “In going against Iran, he not only removed a menace and a threat to the nation of Israel, but he removed a threat to America and the entire world. And he ought to be thanked for doing that.”
Evangelical support for President Trump has been well documented. According to exit polls, 81% of white evangelicals voted for him in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Other Christian leaders echoed Jeffress’s sentiments. Pastor John Hagee, founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel, told Fox News before the strikes: “President Trump is a strong leader who won’t allow himself to be played by Iranian negotiators.”
Dr. Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion Museum, also commended the president’s firm stance toward Iran.
However, speaking to Premier Christian News, a Christian academic challenged the theological basis for support of military action.
John Heathershaw, professor of international relations at the University of Exeter and a supporter of faith-based peace initiatives, said there is no biblical justification for what some are calling a “holy war.”
“If you support violent military action against another country on biblical grounds, then you’re misreading the Bible—and you have bad theology,” he said.
Heathershaw continued, “Yes, there was something called holy war in the Old Testament, but it was about setting Israel apart in the Old Covenant. We now live under the New Covenant, and to the extent that Israel ‘lives forever,’ that refers to Israel grafted into the people of God through Christ and the Church.”
He concluded, “What we’re seeing today is not holy war. It may be an attempt by certain parts of the Church in the United States to align with political power, rather than a reflection of sound biblical theology.”